FishbowlDC Interview With Jason Linkins

Say hello to Jason Linkins, editor of HuffPost’s “Eat the Press”. On Sunday look for his media column in which he skewers the Sunday morning political talk shows. As you’ll notice, he has a great fondness for the f-word.

If you were a carbonated beverage which would you be? I think at this point, I practically have a sponsorship deal with Coke Zero. Did you know it has the same great taste as regular Coke? Only with flavorings that are probably giving me polyps.

How often do you Google yourself? Very rarely, though I do receive Google alerts with my name. Usually, it’s like a daily reminder that I wrote something an hour ago.

Who is your favorite working journalist? That’s such a hard question. There’s a lot I can name. But in the past year I had the opportunity to talk with Dale Maharidge, and I was left very thankful for the fact that he continues to ply his trade, as well as train up tomorrow’s journalists.

Did you see “Twilight” and “New Moon?” If so, who is more your type, Edward or Jacob? I have not seen the emo tween vampire movies, but I’m allergic to things with furry pelts and things with broody pretension. I am on the side of whatever character is played by Bryce Dallas Howard, in the next movie, let’s say.

Who would you rather have dinner with – First Lady Michelle Obama or Bestselling Author and former V.P. candidate Sarah Palin? The First Lady. Because of the whole “facility with the English language” thing.

When did you last cry and why? Oh, it’s just too personal, I’m sorry to say.

What word do you routinely misspell? “Misspell,” for one. Also “auxiliary.” But the most by far is “Joseph” – my fingers just want to type is J-O-S-P-E-H, and I cannot get them to stop.

What’s the name of your cell phone ring? “T-Jingle,” which is quite dumb of me – I instinctively reach for my phone whenever I hear a T-Mobile commercial.

What swear word do you use most often? The f-word, hands down.

What word or phrase do you overuse? The f-word, hands down.

See more Linkins after the jump…

What TV show do you have to watch? “30 Rock.” I usually watch it twice, because it’s so reference-dense. I remember Tina Fey from college, and have always rooted for her. Her favorite word really was “cooter,” even back then. Tina was a year ahead of me at the University of Virginia. We were but acquaintances, but I was very fortunate to have been in CABARET with her.

Where do you shop most often for your clothes? Old Navy. My fashion sense peaks at “the null set,” and I find IÂ’d rather spend my money on rock music and bourbon.

Who do you prefer for daytime talk, Dr. Phil, Oprah, Tyra or the women of The View? Probably Tyra, because she is absolutely cuckoo-bird INSANE. She really has the personality of a modern-day cult leader, though that manifests itself more terrifyingly on America’s Next Top Model.

If you were trapped on a deserted island, which public official would you want to be trapped with and why? I can’t think of a single public official who’d be even remotely useful in that circumstance. I think there was some Representative who recently actually stranded himself on a desert island for fun? Am I recalling that correctly? That would be useful, I guess.

Who was your mentor? Ana Marie Cox.

What’s the best advice you ever received in the course of your career? Trust your instincts. Then, verify your instincts.

What and where was your first job in journalism? Well, on a volunteer basis, it was at DCist.com. Wonkette was the first organization to ever give me the sort of money that folds.

What’s your most embarrassing career moment? I did a live chat interview with a well-known cable news figure I won’t name. The person in question was just such a phony, and I really allowed myself to be used in a way very reminiscent of the SPORTS NIGHT episode “The Sweet Smell of Air.” I was really embarrassed, and just angry at myself. In explanation: The Sweet Smell of Air was the episode where the gang were told they were getting an interview with Michael Jordan, only to find out the exclusive topic was some cologne he had coming out.

Who is the most enjoyable person you’ve ever interviewed? Kate Beckinsale. If nothing else, it’s really enjoyable being two feet from Kate Beckinsale. I donÂ’t know if you’ve ever been, but I’d recommend it. I made a strong pitch for her to come do a play at the Shakespeare Theatre, so…donÂ’t say I never tried to do anything nice for you, Washington, DC.

What’s the biggest scoop you’ve ever had? Probably one from the litter box in the other room.